Navy arrest 23 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters; two trawlers seized

At least 23 Indian fishermen were taken into naval custody yesterday along with two trawlers for engaging in poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters in seas east of Point Pedro and Vettilaikeni, Navy said.
 

Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla (4 FAF) and Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command took hold of two Indian fishing vessels along with 23 Indian fishers aboard, for poaching in Sri Lankan waters east of Point Pedro and Vettilaikeni yesterday.
 
The operation also led to the seizure of fishing gear from those vessels, used for the illegal fishing practice known as ‘bottom trawling’, and a stock of fish caught by the same fishing method.

Last time, the Navy seized 05 fishing vessels and 54 Indian nationals for poaching in Sri Lankan waters on 24th March 2021. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navy limited seizure of foreign fishing vessels and continued to repatriate them to their home waters.